Toaster.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK A. VOLLBRECHT, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 INDUSTRIAL ELEC- TRIC MFG. COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION 0F MICHIGAN.

TOASTEB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 30, 1917.

Application led June 19, 1916. Serial No. 104,386.

This invention relates'to electric heating devices, such as toasters, and refers more particularly to an improved construction of electric toasters of that type in which the electrical resistance element is positioned between opposed grids.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a construction in^ which the electrical resistance unit and preferably also the protecting grid can be constructed and assembled as a separate unit; to so construct and arrange this unit and the frame that the unit and its terminals are held in position in the frame by a simple clip arrangement, the clips being preferably formed by lugs struck inwardly from the end walls of the frame; to provide an improved construction of frame, and mounting, and reinforcement for the novel resistance unit; to provide a construction which can be economically manufactured and assembled; and in general to provide an improved and simplified construction of the character above referred to. A

The invention further resides in such features of construction and arrangements and combinations of parts as will more fully hereinafter appear.

In the drawings: Figure l is a side elevation of'an electric toaster embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line -m of Fig. 1.

Describing in detail the particular construction shown in the drawings, A designates the toaster frame which comprises a base B, a top C, and end up-rights D and E. At their upper and lower ends the up-rights D. and E are each provided with flanges F and G respectively. The latter is riveted or otherwise directly secured to the base B but the upper flanges are preferably secured to the top by rivets or other securing members, each extending through an offset shoulder H. This arrangement rigidly attaches the top to the flanges of the end up-rights but acts as a heat insulation between the connecting members. A similar insulating arrangement is maintained between the base B and the supporting legs J.

In the present construction the electrical resistance unit K and the supporting grid L are formed as a unit which can be manufactured separately and `assembled and held in position in the frame in the manner hereinafter described. This resistance and grid unit comprises a pair of notched insulator members M and M around which is wound a flat resistance wire N.

Each of the insulator members M and M is formed of two layers of mica or other suitable material, and between these layers there is interposed a reinforcing member O which is U-shaped in cross section and of lesser width than the insulator members. This reinforcing member and the insulator members are held in position at the' upper end by rivets P which extend through the insulator members and the reinforcement and clamp the same between the flanges P and P2 of a pair of angle laars Q. The other flanges of these angle bars are provided with apertures Q2 through which the upper ends Q3 of the grid bars Qc extend. The lower ends of the grid bars extend through apertures Q5 in angle or Z-bars R and R. The vertical flanges of these Z-bars are secured to the reinforcing member and the insulator members by rivets or other suitable means. The construction as so far described comprises the resistance andgrid unit which can be manufactured and assembled separately from the frame.

For attaching the resistance unit and grid member to the frame, I preferably employ a simple and novel arrangement in which lugs S and S are struck in from the end uprights D and E and are locked over the ends of the up-right flanges of the angle bars. After the unit is secured in place relative to the frame as above described the holding members T and T are engaged with the apertures T 2 in the end up-rights of the'frame. At one end the holding members are provided with suitable operating handles T3 and T while at the opposite end there is sleeved upon the wire of the holding member, a spring U which has a return-bent end U adapted to catch over the edge of the end 11p-right, and a second return-bent portion Uz adapted to catch under the offset portion lili - Laisser lll*cg of the holding member. 'lhis spring arrangement serves to resiliently press the holding members against the toast or other article engaging the grid and also serves to prevent longitudinal displacement of the holding members.

Suitable terminals V and V are employed, these terminals being clamped to the lower portion V2 of the U-shaped reinforcement. rl`he ends of the dat resistance wire N are connected to these terminals and extend upward between insulator plates l/V and W', and from there one end passes through an aperture W3 in the lower end of one of the insulator members. The wire is then wound around the notched insulator member lll so as to be positioned in the notchestL thereof and at the upper end of the insulator member M passes through an aperture Y and a corresponding aperture Y onto the insulator member M., iFrom here it is wound spirally lin the notches X of the insulator member M until it reaches the aperture in the other insulator member from which it passes, between the insulator plates W, back to the4 other terminal.

lt rwill be noticed that a toaster con-- structed as above described has a minimum number of parts and that the number of operations in manufacturing and assembling it is also reduced to a minimum. The construction, however, is one which has great rigidity, since the lugs S and S are arranged to bear against both the vertical and horizontal flanges of the angle-bars and thus hold the unit from either vertical or lateral movement relative to the frame. rllhis novel arrangement also permits the use of a heating unit from which there is direct radiation of the heat to the toast or other article to be heated. rllhe invention however is not limited to the particular use mentioned nor-to the details of construction, except as specified in the appended claims.

.What l claim as vmy invention is:

l. 'The combination with a frame having end up-rights, of an electrical resistance unit having angle shaped members at its upper andvlower ends, and securing lugs extending inwardly from said 11p-rights and engaging said angleshaped members.

2. The combination with a frame having spaced walls, of a dat electrical resistance unit positioned between said walls and provided with a transverse flange, and means for holdingsaid unit in fixed relation to said frame comprising lugs struck inwardly from said spaced walls and extending adjacent the transverse flange and into locking engagement with edge portions of the resistance unit.

3. rl`he combination with a frame having end 11p-rights, of an electrical resistance unit having reversely positioned angle bars at its upper and lower ends, and means for holding said unit in fixed position in said frame comprising lugs extending inwardly from the Lip-rights and engaging the vertical flanges of said angle bars and positioned adjacent the horizontal flanges thereof.

4. 'llhe combination with a frame having end 11p-rights, of an electrical resistance unit comprising a pair of flat insulator members, a resistance wire wound on the outside of said insulator members, reinforcement members positioned inside of the insulator members, a pair of angle bars having depending vertical flanges secured upon opposite sides of said `insulator member, and lugs extending inwardly from the end uprights and clamped against said vertical flanges, just beneath the horizontal flanges of the angle bars.

5. rlhe combination with a frame having spaced walls, of a combined electrical ref sistance unit and grid member comprising a wound electrical resistance unit having at its upper and lower ends reversely positioned pairs of angle bars, secured thereto, grid bars extending through the other flanges lof said angle bars, and means engaging said angle bars for holding said resistance. and grid unit in position in said frame.

6. The combination with a frame, of an electrical resistance unit supported therein, said unit comprising a pair of notched insulator strips of double thickness, a U-shaped reinforcing member of lesser width than the insulator strips positioned between the layers of the insulator strips, an exposed resistance wire wound around the insulator strips and engaging in the notches thereof, and metallic reinforcing members secured at the opposite ends of said strips.

ln testimony whereof l afliX my signature.

FREDERllCK A. VOLLBRECHT. 

